The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has urged government to adopt stronger and more decisive measures against illegal mining, including declaring a state of emergency in the most affected zones.
In a communiqué issued after its Annual Plenary Assembly in Damongo in the Savannah Region, the Conference described the scale of environmental destruction caused by galamsey as “a profound moral crisis and a spiritual challenge.” The Bishops emphasised that creation must be treated not as a commodity to exploit but as “a covenantal partner deserving of respect and care.”
The GCBC cited worrying figures from 2025, noting that more than 5,252 hectares of forest reserves have already been lost to illegal mining, while 44 of the country’s 288 reserves are now classified as degraded. They also highlighted that an estimated 75% of Ghana’s rivers are polluted—largely due to mercury and cyanide from unregulated mining.
While acknowledging government efforts, including the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Bishops said the situation requires far bolder action.
They called on President John Dramani Mahama to implement tougher interventions, including:
Declaring a state of emergency in high-risk galamsey zones
Swift, impartial prosecution of all offenders, irrespective of political connections
Reclamation of destroyed lands across mining-affected areas
Transparent national reporting on water quality, forest cover and food safety
The Conference also commended chiefs and queen mothers who have taken firm positions against illegal mining, encouraging other traditional leaders to do the same. They urged all citizens to actively participate in protecting the country’s natural resources, stressing that Ghana’s land and water bodies must be “sanitised and healed” for the benefit of both present and future generations.
